Staffing, funding will be discussed by Columbia School Board on Tuesday

BROOKLYN, MI – The Columbia School Board will continue to work through its 2012-13 budget during a workshop set for Tuesday night.

The board adopted a balanced $12 million budget in June and earlier this month issued layoff notices to 1.5 teachers, a social worker, an hourly secretary, a substitute teacher coordinator and the reporter and editor of the “Torch Bearer” newsletter in an attempt to offset a $667,815 projected shortfall.

The hope is that firmer funding numbers and other adjustments will allow the district to bring back some positions so students are not affected as much by cuts, said Interim Superintendent Lisa Petersen.

The board is also scheduled to prepare for the Aug. 1 second interview of Pam Campbell, its sole finalist in the district’s search to replace Superintendent Brent Beamish, who left the job June 30 but will fill out the final year of his contract next year as a district consultant.

The board meets at 7 p.m. in the Columbia Central High School media center, 11775 Hewitt Road.